Drain trap priming device



Examihl Dec. 25, 1-934. w. B. SMITH DRAIN TRAP PRIMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 13, 1933 Patented Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 21 Claims.

The present invention relates to a device wherein flow movement is utilized to effect flow escape. Since the principal use of such a device is found in utilizing the escape for the priming of drain traps I shall refer to the device herein as applied to this use, but without limiting intent.

The object of the invention is to produce such a device possessing a number of features rendering it advantageous both in manufacture and in use, and since these advantages can be brought out most clearly in the description of an embodiment of the invention, which follows, their enumeration is unnecessary at this point.

The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a practical embodiment of the invention by way of example.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a cross section of the new device,

Figure 2 is an elevation of the device as seen from the right of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the device, partly in section, as seen from the left of Figure 1,

Figure 4 shows a detail in plan, and

Figure 5 shows another detail in section.

The device comprises a body generally designated by the reference numeral 10, the body as here shown comprising a main portion 11 and a coverplate 12. Body portion 11 is in the form of a rectangular frame having walls 13, 14, 15, and 16 integral with a wall 17 which closes one side of the frame. Walls 13 to 16 are outwardly flanged at their edges opposite wall 17, the faces of the flanged edges being in a plane parallel to the plane of wall 17.

Walls 14 and 16 are connected by a wall 18 of equal depth and preferably substantially parallel to walls 13 and 15. A wall 19, parallel to walls 14 and 16, connects walls 15 and 18. In this manner three chambers are defined within the main body portion, these chambers being designated by the reference numerals 20, 21, and 22 and herein referred to respectively as the inlet, the outlet, and the escape chambers. These chambers are completed by the coverplate 12 which is secured to body portion 11 against the flanged edges of walls 13 to 16 by means of screws as at 23, suitable packing means being interposed between the coverplate and the flanges. Wall 13 is provided with a threaded inlet port 24 and wall 15 with a threaded outlet port 25, the two openings being preferably in alignment as shown in Figure 1. Partition wall 18 is provided with a port 26 which is substantially smaller than port 24 and preferably in alignment with ports 24 and 25, port 26 placing the inlet chamber in communication with the outlet chamber. Partition wall 18 is also provided with a threaded bore in which is threaded a valve seat ring 27 which provides an outlet port 28 communicating the inlet chamber with the escape chamber. Wall 15 is provided with a threaded bore 29 in alignment with port 28 and wall 16 is provided with .a threaded outlet port 30 for the escape chamber.

Partition wall 18 is thickened adjacent partition wall 19 and provided on the inlet chamber side with a substantially semi-cylindrical recess 31 adjacent coverplate l2. Adjacent wall 17 is formed a substantially cylindrical boss 32 provided with a threaded bore on the axis of recess 31, the bore thus being perpendicular to wall 17.

A lever or rocker member generally designated by the reference numeral 33 has a barrel portion 34 provided with an axial bore 35. An arm 36 projects from portion 34 at right angles to bore 35 and a further arm portion 37 of substantially arcuate form extends from the outer end of portion 36 on an are having the axis of bore 35 as its center. A further arm portion 38 projects from portion 36 adjacent the barrel 34 and at its free end has an oii'set 39 in the direction of the barrel portion, the offset supporting a valve disc or washer 40.

Lever 33 is mounted on a cap screw 41 passed through bore 35 and threaded in the bore of boss 32, the dimensions of the lever being such that valve disc 40 is adapted to register with a seat 40' on the inlet chamber side of ring 27 with lever portion 37 extending through opening 26 in wall 18. A vane 42 is secured to the extremity of lever portion 37 by means of a screw 43, the vane being positioned in the outlet chamber and preferably being of suflicient size so that its marginal portion overlies to some extent the marginal portion of port 26. Preferably, however, vane 42 is still somewhat spaced from wall 18 when valve element 40 is fully seated so that full seating of the valve element is not interfered with by abutment of the vane with wall 18. A torsion spring 44 on barrel portion 34 of lever 33 tends to hold valve element 40 seated.

A plug 45 threaded in bore 29 carries a co-axially extending pin 46 which at its other end projects in an axial bore of a plunger 47. A compression spring 48 interposed between the pin and the plunger in the bore of the latter tends to hold the beveled forward end of the plunger against a mating seat of ring 27. By turning plug 45 the force of spring 48 may be adjusted as will be evident.

The device as described is interposed in a liquid supply line so that a flowpassage is established from port 24 to port 25 through inlet chamber 20, its immediate outlet port 26 and outlet chamber 21. A drain trap connection is made to port 30, a supply passage to the connection being defined by port 28, escape chamber 22, and port 30, as here shown.

When the main line is opened beyond outlet port 25 liquid enters through the inlet chamber and passing through port 26 impinges against vane 42 deflecting or moving the latter about the axis of lever 33 thus unseating valve element 40 and permitting the fluid to pass through port 28 unseating plunger 47 and passing through chamber 22 and port 30 to the trap connection. Due to the arcuate form of lever portion 37 a large range of movement is permitted vane 42 which may be moved entirely out of register with port 26. Lever portion 37 is, of course, always in port 26 and thus somewhat reduces the capacity thereof. Also it will be understood that the capacity of port 24 is only that of the supply pipe which is threaded therein. In any event the actual capacity of port 26 is preferably somewhat less than the capacity of the inlet opening so that pressure is always maintained in the inlet chamber and siphoning action beyond outlet port 25 thus prevented from affecting the trap connection. It will be understood that a predominant pressure must be exerted on vane 42 as compared to valve disc 40. Thus the product of the effective surface area of vane 42 and its distance from the lever axis must be greater than the product of the effective surface area of disc 40 and its distance from the lever axis as will be understood.

When the main line is again closed beyond outlet port 25, flow ceases through port 26 and vane 42 is thus free to return to the position shown in Figure 1. Valve element 40 is in the current which still flows in the inlet chamber between ports 24 and 28 and is thereby moved to closed position whereupon plunger 47 seats. Spring 44 serves to insure closing movement of valve element 40 and is preferably provided as a precautionary measure. The device as shown is perfectly operative without the spring, however, particularly when installed in the intended position which is shown in Figure 1. In any open position valve member 40 is substantially in the direct line of flow between the two ports.

As has been stated, vane 42 is preferably at least somewhat out of contact with wall 18 when valve element 40 is fully seated. There is thus a bleeder passage around the vane so that it will not be moved as the result of a mere leak in the line beyond port 25. If desired the vane may be provided with one or more perforations as at 42 or other precautions may be taken to insure that the vane will not be moved so as to affect valve member 40 unless the discharge line beyond outlet port 25 is intentionally opened. The permissible escape past the vane without operatively affecting the same may thus be governed so that valve element 40 will be affected only when the discharge line has been opened to a predetermined degree, that is, only by a predetermined flow volume in the flow passage of the priming device.

Plunger 47 serves not only as a check valve to prevent the communication of siphon effects to chamber 22 but it also serves as an escape control valve for controlling the volume of escape through port 28. To this end spring 48 is so adjusted that a predetermined pressure in chamber 20 will unseat plunger 47 a predetermined extent so that only the required supply to the drain trap is effected. Such adjustment may be effected, for example, by adjusting the length of shaft 46 by screwing it into or out of plug 45. With plug 47 omitted, it will be understood that port 28, as controlled only by valve element 40, would ordinarily be considerably smaller than as shown in Figure 1. With this latter function of plunger 47 omitted, it will be understood that port 28, as controlled only by valve element 40, would ordinarily be considerably smaller than as shown in Figure 1.

As stated, adjustment of spring 48 in dependence upon or with reference to the pressure in the inlet chamber controls the volume of flow through port 28 and consequently the trap supply. Thus a single device may be used to take care of one or more traps. Since the trap supply is a pressure supply, the trap or traps may be disposed either above or below the priming device. Any head in the trap connections is maintained by plunger 47 in its function of check valve element.

It will thus be seen that the described priming device is of extremely simple construction so as to be extremely advantageous from the manufacturing standpoint. For example, body portion 11 may be made as a die casting, no machine work being required except the tapping of the various ports and bores and, ordinarily, the machining of the flanged rim. The valve seat ring is preferably provided as a separate element, although not necessarily so. As a separate element its seats may be machined more conveniently. From the standpoint of use the priming device is particularly advantageous since it is positive and instantaneous in action and takes the priming supply from a chamber in which positive pressure always exists and through which, further, suction cannot be transmitted to the trap connection on account of the check valve. Furthermore, due to the various provisions which have been described it is extremely adaptable.

The term vane is used in a broad sense herein as meaning any movable element having a suitable impingement surface so as to be capable of being moved by flow thereagainst.

It will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative of the invention and that many variations may be made within the purviews of the invention. Accordingly, I do not limit myself except as in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A drain trap priming device comprising a body having a fiow passage therethrough and a supply passage for a drain trap connection, a movable valve member normally closing said supply passage, a vane positioned to be moved upon flow through said flow passage, and a pivoted element for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve member to move the latter and open said supply passage.

2. A drain trap priming device comprising a body having a flow passage therethrough and a supply passage for a drain trap connection, a movable valve member normally closing said supply passage, a vane positioned to be moved upon flow through said flow passage, and a pivoted element for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve member to move the latter and open said supply passage, said vane and said valve member being carried by opposite ends of said pivoted element and the latter having a pivoting axis between said vane and said valve member.

3. A drain trap priming device comprising a body having a flow passage therethrough and a supply passage for a drain trap connection, a movable valve member normally closing said supply passage, a check valve in said supply passage presenting an impingement surface and behind said valve member, means in said fiow passage moved from normal position upon flow through said flow passage, and means for transmitting such movement of said means to said valve member to move the latter and open said supply passage.

4. In a drain trap priming device, a body hav-' ing an inlet chamber therein and inlet and outlet openings for said chamber, there being also in communication with said chamber a supply passage for a drain trap connection, a movable valve element in said chamber normally closing said supply passage, a vane disposed outside of said chamber in position to be moved by liquid discharging through said outlet opening, and means for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve member to move the same and open said supply passage.

5. In a drain trap priming device, a body having an inlet chamber therein and inlet and outlet openings for said chamber, there being also in communication with said chamber a supply passage for a drain trap connection, a movable valve element in said chamber normally closing said supply passage, a vane disposed outside of said chamber in position to be moved by liquid,

discharging through said outlet opening, and means for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve member to move the same and open said supply passage, said transmitting means comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends in said chamber and carrying said vane and said valve element at its ends.

6. In a drain trap priming device, a body having an inlet chamber therein and inlet and out let openings for said chamber, there being also in communication with said chamber a supply passage for a drain trap connection, a movable valve element in said chamber normally closing said supply passage, a vane disposed outside of said chamber in position to be moved by liquid discharging through said outlet opening, and means for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve member to move the same and open said supply passage, said transmitting means comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends in said chamber and carrying said vane and said valve element at its ends, the end portion of said lever supporting said vane being substantially arcuate on an are having the lever axis as its center so that the end portion is movable substantially throughout its length through said outlet opening.

7. In a drain trap priming device, a body having an inlet chamber therein and inlet and outlet openings for said chamber, there being also in communication with said chamber a supply passage for a drain trap connection, a movable valve element in said chamber normally closing said supply passage, a vane disposed outside of said chamber in position to be moved by liquid discharging through said outlet opening, and means for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve member to move the same and open said supply passage, said outlet opening being of smaller capacity than said inlet opening.

8. In a drain trap priming device, a body having an inlet chamber therein and inlet and outlet openings for said chamber, there being also in communication with said chamber a supply passage for a drain trap connection, a movable valve element in said chamber normally closing said supply passage, a vane disposed outside of said chamber in position to be moved by liquid discharging through said outlet opening, andmeans for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve member to move the same and open said supply passage, said transmitting means comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends in said chamber and carrying said vane and said valve element at its ends, said vane having freedom of movement so as not to interfere with full closing movement of said valve element.

9. In a drain trap priming device, a body having a chamber therein bounded on one side by a substantially straight wall, a pair of spaced ports in said wall, one of said ports being an outlet port for the main supply and the other being an outlet port for supply to a drain trap, an inlet port for said chamber, a movable valve member normally closing the other of said outlet ports, a vane adjacent the outlet port for the main supply and moved upon flow through the body, and means for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve member to move the latter and open its associated port.

10. In a drain trap priming device, a body having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber and inlet and outlet ports for said chambers respectively, a port connecting said chambers and of less capacity than said inlet port, a relatively small port for a drain trap connection communicating with said inlet chamber, and a flow controlled valve member normally closing said last-named port.

11. In a drain trap priming device a body having an inlet chamber and an escape chamber connected by a port, there being also a main outlet port for the inlet chamber, a flow controlled valve member normally closing the inlet chamber end of said connecting port and a check valve member normally closing the escape chamber end of said connecting port, the check valve member being moved to open position by flow pressure thereon when said flow controlled valve member is opened, and an outlet port for said escape chamber for supply to a. drain trap.

12. In a drain trap priming device a body having an inlet chamber and an escape chamber connected by a port, there being also a main outlet port for the inlet chamber, a flow controlled valve member normally closing the inlet chamber end of said connecting port and a check valve member normally closing the escape chamber end of said connecting port, the check valve member being moved to open position by flow pressure thereon when said flow controlled valve member is opened, and an outlet port for said escape chamber for supply to a drain trap, said check valve member being constituted by an adjustably spring pressed plunger.

13. A drain trap priming device comprising a body having an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and an escape chamber; an inlet port for the inlet chamber, outlet ports for the outlet and escape chambers respectively, ports respectively connecting the outlet and escape chambers with the inlet chamber, a movable valve element normally closing the port between the inlet and escape chambers, a vane adjacent the port between the inlet and outlet chambers and moved upon flow therethrough, and means for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve element to move the latter and open its associated port.

14. A drain trap priming device comprising a body having an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and an escape chamber; an inlet port for the inlet chamber, outlet ports for the outlet and escape chambers respectively, ports respectively connecting the outlet and escape chambers with the inlet chamber, a movable valve element normally closing the port between the inlet and escape chambers, a vane adjacent the port between the inlet and outlet chambers and moved upon flow therethrough, and a check valve in said escape chamber.

15. A drain trap priming device comprising a body having an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and an escape chamber; an inlet port for the inlet chamber, outlet ports for the outlet and escape chambers respectively, ports respectively connecting the outlet and escape chambers with the inlet chamber, a movable valve element in the inlet chamber normally closing the port between the inlet and escape chambers, a vane in the outlet chamber adjacent the port between the inlet and outlet chambers and moved upon flow therethrough, and means for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve element to move the latter and open its associated port.

16. A drain trap priming device comprising a body having an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber, and an escape chamber; an inlet port for the inlet chamber, outlet ports for the outlet and escape chambers respectively, ports respectively connecting the outlet and escape chambers with the inlet chamber, a movable valve element in the inlet chamber normally closing the port between the inlet and escape chambers, a vane in the outlet chamber adjacent the port between the inlet and outlet chambers and moved upon flow therethrough, and a check valve in said escape chamber.

17. A drain trap priming device comprising a body having a flow passage therethrough, an escape chamber in communication with said passage and having an outlet port for supply to a drain trap, and an adjustably spring pressed escape control valve in said chamber, said valve being adjusted in dependence upon the pressure in the flow passage to control the volume of escape from said passage.

18. In a drain trap priming device, a body having a flow passage therethrough, a supply passage off of said flow line for connection to a dra.n trap, a movable valve member normally closing said supply passage, a vane in said flow passage and moved upon flow therethrough, and means for transmitting such movement of said vane to said valve element to move the latter and open said supply passage, said vane being operatively affected only by a fiow volume in said flow passage above a predetermined minimum.

19. A flow actuated valve comprising means defining a flow passage therethrough, there being a flow port in said passage, a lever member pivoted between its ends, a vane mounted at one end of said lever member behind said flow port with reference to the direction of flow through the latter, means defining a chamber adjacent said fiow passage, said chamber having an outlet, there being a connecting port between said chamber and said flow passage, and a port closing member for said connecting port at the other end of said lever member, said vane being deflected as a result of flow through said flow port and swinging said lever to move said port closing member.

20. A flow actuated valve comprising means defining a flow passage therethrough, there being a fiow port in said flow passage, a lever member pivoted between its ends, a vane mounted at one end of said lever member behind said flow port with reference to the direction of flow through the latter, said flow passage including a wall having an opening therein in communication wlth the atmosphere, and a closing member for said opening at the other end of said lever memher, said vane being deflected as a result of fiow through said flow port and swinging said lever to move said port closing member.

21. A flow actuated valve comprising means defining a flow passage therethrough, said passage having aligned inlet and outlet openings with port-defining means therebetween, said first-named means defining a chamber portion offset from the line of flow between said openings, said chamber having a port in communication with the atmosphere, a lever pivoted between its ends, a vane mounted at one end of said lever behind said port-defining means with reference to the direction of flow through the latter, and a closing member for the chamber port at the other end of said lever, said vane being deflected as a result of flow through said port defining means and swinging said lever to move said closing member.

WILLIAM B. SMITH. 

